THE Church of England has admitted a village vicar has broken its child protection policy.

The Rev Andy Armitt, vicar for the parish of West End and Bisley, was suspended following an allegation of sexual assault by a teenage girl.

Surrey Police and the Diocese of Guildford said last week that no further action was being taken in relation to the specific accusation.

However, the church has confirmed this week that an injunction could be taken out against Mr Armitt that would prevent him from working with young people.

Following a Woking News & Mail article which outlined that Mr Armitt was still suspended on full pay, the newspaper was contacted by several members of the parish who had been sent letters by the Bishop of Guildford, detailing the proposed action.

One parishioner, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It is clear to me that the bishop feels Mr Armitt poses a threat to children and young people, hence the injunction.”

In the letter to the woman, the Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Rev Christopher Hill, wrote: “I am proposing both a rebuke and an injunction on Mr Armitt for breaking the child protection policy of the dioceses and the wider Church of England.

“A rebuke is on record permanently and an injunction legally prevents him from working with children and young people until such a time as, after taking professional advice, I have a certification that it is safe for Mr Armitt to have contact again with children and young people.”

In a comment to the News & Mail, a spokesman for the Diocese of Guildford added: “The complaint against Mr Armitt was complex and multiple but in relation to the criminal accusation the bishop came to the same conclusion as the police.

"There is therefore no criminal charge to answer.

“Similarly, the bishop has decided to take no action in connection with a related accusation made directly to him under Church law after careful examination of the material submitted.

“This included a dossier supplied by the police in relation to the criminal accusation.

“It was this part of the bishop’s decision that the complainants had appealed to the President of Tribunals, an Appeal Court judge.

“In the middle of last week the bishop was informed that the President of Tribunals has upheld his decision to take no further action. Mr Armitt has consistently denied these accusations.

“The third part of the complaint, however, was that Mr Armitt had disregarded the diocesan Safeguarding Policy.

“This Mr Armitt had admitted with great regret, although it was accepted that he had not intended to put children at risk.

"The Bishop is now considering the appropriate penalty and will be informing both Mr Armitt and the complainants shortly.”